A combination of determination, hard work, and luck, helped Osun United of Osogbo survive the onslaught of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan as they managed to beat the table-toppers 1-0 in a Group B1 matchday 18 games played at the Osogbo Township Stadium.
It was a day goal deserted the Oluyole Warriors as they tried in vain to level up after the homers got a shocking 45 seconds opener, their only glaring chance of the entire duration of the match.
The two teams had barely settled down when the host made their first incursion into the 3SC dangerous area and were luckily rewarded when Adio Monsuru made use of the opening in the visitors’ rear to fire past goalkeeper Detan Ogundare.
The Oluyole Warriors shrugged off the shock of conceding that early goal as they took the game to the homers, who were however brave enough to ward off the pressure.
Shooting Stars did not hide their intention to carry the day, as the coach Edith Agoye led technical crew paraded a hit squad that had Abbey Benson, Elum Henry, Muritala Taye, and Amodu Nurideen, Isiaka Mutiu, Elum Henry, Ayodele Malomo, Muhammed Akilu, Nwankwegu Hycent, Raheem Quadry, and Opeoluwa Olufemi.
For the most part of the first half, the Ibadan soccer lords, caged their host to their own half, forcing them to gasp for breath at some point, but the much sought-after goal refused to come.
Osun United also made some spirited efforts to increase the tally with ex-Shooting Stars’ forward, Thomas Adesina spearheading their attack but found the 3SC rear too difficult to beat.
On two different occasions, what looked like penalty offenses by the Osun United defenders were ignored by referees.
The Oluyole Warriors continued from where they stopped in the first half, increasing the tempo but met stiff resistance from the United defense, made up of Duru Francis, Oyelade Mubaraq, Abimbola Mojeed, and Akilapa Olusola, who ensured that goalkeeper Arinze Okoro was not beaten.
Midway into the second half, Muritala Taye’s header came off the bar while Elum Henry’s effort, also through a header, narrowly missed the target towards the closing stages of the encounter.
The Shooting Stars’ bench introduced the duo of Najeem Olukokun and Osaghae Junior for injured Nwankwegu and Akilu just as Gafar Olafimihan replaced Malomo Ayodele, while Raheem Quadry could not finish the game as he also sustained an injury towards the end of the match.
Despite the loss, Shooting Stars maintain their top position on the log while the win is a giant step by Osun United in their bid to retain their NNL status.
The Oluyole Warriors will on Sunday, play host to Stationery Stores of Lagos, in a matchday 19 game billed for the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.
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